The Decatur County Hall of Fame inducted Raleigh Choice, LeAnn Harrell Inlow, the late Cary Cox and William Widener last Saturday night at the Kirbo Center.
Choice, who was introduced by his former Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Florida State University Seminoles teammate and friend LaRae Davis, talked about what an inspiration Davis and their late Bearcats head coach Charles Bess was to him. Choice was an outstanding high school and college basketball player.
Harrell Inlow, who was introduced by her friend and fellow Dehildren Realty employee and former Bainbridge City Manager Charles Tyson, talked about how much her former Bainbridge High School Lady Cats basketball coach Bobby Trawick, who she described as a wonderful coach and person, inspired her.
Inlow was an outstanding high school basketball softball and tennis player and outstanding college basketball and softball player, and high school basketball, softball and tennis coach
The late Cox’s daughter and son Elizabeth (Buffie) Cox Marks and W. Cary Cox Junior talked about how much their father, who was a Southwest Georgia All-Conference captain with the Bainbridge High School Bearcarts football team and an All-American center and linebacker with the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team, always talked about how proud he was to be from Bainbridge.
Cox was an outstanding high school All-Conference High School and college All-American football player and World War II military hero
Widener, who was introduced by former Bainbridge swimmer Roger Searcy, talked about how Searcy and so many other many swimmers and band members he coached and taught through the years have meant to him. Widener was an outstanding band director and swimming coach.
Choice said Bess, his wife Maribel, his daughter Isabella and Davis, his teammate at Bainbridge High School and teammate and roommate at Florida State, have been his rocks in life.
Prior to Tyson’s introductory remarks and Harrell Inflows’ remarks, a video and audio congratulatory message from University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs head basketball coach Andy Landes, who she played under on his 1980-81 national championship team, was played.
Harrell Inlow was also on the Florida State University Lady Seminoles national championship softball teams in 1982 and 1983.
“Coach Trawick was always tough on us but we always knew he deeply cared about us and pushed us to do our best every time we went out on court,” Inlow said. “It was an honor and a privilege to play for him.”
She said her husband Billy Inlow and her son Carson Inlow is her heart and her inspiration. She received a big applause when she announced that he is a 10-year breast cancer survivor.
The late Cary Cox’s daughter and son said their father, who is also a member of the Alabama Hall of Fame, said he was an inspiration as a father, grandfather, teammate, World War II hero and friend.
Widener said his two major passions in life are music and swimming. During his career his bands won superior and excellent ratings in all concert, solo and ensemble performances and he taught 42 All-State band members.
A 1956 Bainbridge High School graduate, he won the pole vault with a height of 12 feet, and the high jump with a height of six feet in 1956.